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<\/p>\nBy James Bovington<\/p>\n
A young man from Stanningley who \u201cknows first hand the pain of grief and bereavement\u201d is urging others to sign up for the next\u00a0Ultra\u00a0MMA event in Leeds.<\/p>\n
Former Co-op Academy Priesthorpe student Luke Woodend, 23, said he \u201cknows how getting in the cage and facing an opponent who\u2019s a novice like you can help anyone come to terms with anything, even if it\u2019s just the pressures of daily life which are often overwhelming.\u201d<\/p>\n
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He said: \u201cMy mum passed away with cancer when I was 16 and three years later my grandma too. Nothing worse could have happened. I eventually became homeless and struggled with everything but did get help to do a plumbing and gas engineering apprenticeship. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut grief made me lose my way and alcohol didn\u2019t provide the permanent solution I wanted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI eventually moved into shared accommodation and, once qualified, set up my own gas engineering business\u00a0Structo\u00a0in partnership with a mate. I wanted a challenge which would allow me to improve my fitness and raise money for charity.<\/p>\n
\u201cMMA has a scary reputation, but I thought why not?\u00a0 About forty of us enrolled on eight weeks\u2019 free training at Bad Company gym in Bramley. We got matched with an opponent from within the group. The training was demanding but the coaches more than helpful and I made loads of new mates as everyone was encouraging.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke said he had always wanted to give combat sports a go. <\/p>\n
\u201cLike many lads I enjoy watching the UFC,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s violent and brutal but somehow, it\u2019s pure and honest. There\u2019s lots allowed in professional MMA that we weren\u2019t allowed but yes, we learnt to take a punch to the face. The thought of it is worse than the reality. Believe me. <\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t win my fight with Alex from York, but after the bout I was buzzing and glowing. I loved everything about the event including the support from the ten people who bought tickets. Like being a UFC star for the day. I\u2019m running the Temple Newsam Ultra Loop in August. I can\u2019t wait to get training again for the autumn MMA show. <\/p>\n
\u201cSign up for\u00a0Ultra\u00a0MMA if you\u2019ve ever wanted to try combat sports. It doesn\u2019t get any more real than this and you\u2019ve the summer to prepare.\u201d<\/p>\n
Luke raised \u00a31,190 for MacMillan Nurses, who\u2019d helped his mum and grandma. <\/p>\n
He and Alex were among 34 novice MMA fighters\u00a0raising \u00a311,700 for a range of charities.<\/p>\n
Ultra\u00a0MMA returns to the Village Hotel Leeds North on 28 November, with training beginning at Bramley\u2019s Bad Company Gym in September. Competitors must be aged 18 or older on the date training starts. Sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Sponsored content<\/p>\n
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